UConn's Stephen goes to Vikings, Smallwood to Falcons

Updated 8:23 pm, Saturday, May 10, 2014

And for UConn's Shamar Stephen and Yawin Smallwood, the wait was downright excruciating.

Projected to be as high as a third-round pick by NFL.com, Stephen, a 6-foot-5, 323-pound defensive tackle, fell all the way to the NFL draft's seventh round's fifth pick (220th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings. Smallwood fell even further, going to Atlanta Falcons with the seventh round's 38th pick (253rd).

"It was definitely a long wait," Stephen said in a conference call after he had spoken to the Vikings. "I was definitely anxious. Just tying to hope that I'd get picked up. I was happy about it and I just want to thank the Minnesota Vikings for picking me up."

Smallwood, a 6-3, 244-pound linebacker who was projected to go in either the fourth or fifth round, wasn't selected until there were just four picks left in the draft.

"I was getting pretty stressed out," Smallwood said. "After the first round, I started waiting for my name to be called, and after the second round, third round, fourth and fifth rounds, I was still waiting. I started to see a lot of players that I thought I was better than, so I started to think that I might not get drafted. But then I finally got that call from Atlanta and that felt great."

The selections of Stephen and Smallwood marked the 22nd and 23rd players chosen from UConn in the last 10 years. Aside from 2006, the Huskies have had at least one player taken each year since 2005.

According to NFL.com, Stephen had "terrific size" and was "very athletic for a big man. Has raw tools to work with" and had "solid personal and football character." However, among his weaknesses, scouts cited his "lethargic get-off" and his "average eyes, instincts and recognition."

At the combine, Stephen did 25 reps, ran a 5.25 40-yard dash, had an 8-foot, 7-inch broad jump and a 30Â½-inch vertical. He was the 35th defensive linemen selected.

"I just want to come in and prove that I can play," Stephen said. "And be able to be a factor for them next year. I didn't want to worry about what round I was drafted in, I just want to show people that I can play."

Smallwood -- projected to be a third-round pick by SBNation.com -- will bring career marks of 332 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 9Â½ sacks with him. In his final season with the Huskies, Smallwood collected 118 tackles, four sacks and 9Â½ tackles for loss.

At the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Smallwood did 18 reps (225 pounds), ran a 5.01 40-yard dash, posted a 9-foot board jump and a 36Â½-inch vertical, despite a bad hamstring.

"I feel like I'm the best linebacker in the draft. I got hurt during the combine," Smallwood said. "I felt like I was productive my whole career."